Textile drafting machines



March 29, 1955 w. MACDONALD 2,704,863

TEXTILE DRAFTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR (217? Maca'onaia ATTORNEY United States Patent TEXTILE DRAFTING MACHINES Walter Macdonald, Seekonk, Mass.

Application December 12, 1951, Serial No. 261,321

23 Claims. (Cl. 19-131) This invention relates to improvements in textile drafting machines such as drawing frames, finishers, speeders, reducers, roving frames and spinning frames, and more particularly for controlling and drafting slivers between drawing rolls with long-draft endless aprons therebetween.

Hereafter, the words frames or frame will mean any type of machine used in drafting slivers to a smaller size.

Such frames as have been in use heretofore have been constructed with multiple draft means extending throughout the length of the machine, with aprons to guide the roving or sliver between the draft rolls. The top and bottom aprons usually are supported on shafts that extend throughout the length of the machine, or throughout a major portion of the length thereof.

These aprons wear, become damaged, and collect lint and fly in the operation of the machine, which requires replacement of individual aprons at relatively frequent intervals. This has necessitated stopping the machine or a substantial portion thereof for a considerable period of time due to the necessity for removing tension weights, cradles and supporting shafts on which the aprons are mounted, including all of the various bearings therefor along the length thereof, and removing and replacing the defective aprons. This results in a considerable waste of time due to stoppage of the operation but no satisfactory means has been provided heretofore for replacing aprons quickly, easily and individually.

One object of this invention is to provide in a frame for easy and quick replacement of the aprons Without the stoppage of the machine or the removal of the supporting or drive shaft, or any portion thereof, or an entire set of aprons.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of a frame by mounting the long-draft aprons in an individual unit which may be mounted in the frame k U for ready removal therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the maintenance of proper tension on the long-draft aprons of a frame and for the efiective driving thereof whereby the sliver will be directed through the drawing rolls uniformly and without the collection of appreciable lint or fiy thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an individual self-contained, fully assembled detachable or snap-on unit containing two belts or aprons which are positively driven through a series of gears for supporting the sliver and fibers thereof for each individual spindle of a frame and which can be interchanged as a complete unit very quickly even by unskilled labor without requiring trained mechanics and without the stopping of the machine or removing weights, levers, saddles, supporting shafts or any substantial part thereof.

These objects of the invention may be accomplished according to one embodiment thereof by mounting the longdraft aprons within a subframe provided with means to maintain proper tension on the aprons, which will eliminate the looseness and flopping action heretofore encountered and will direct the sliver uniformly through the drawing rolls. The subframe carries individual positive driving means for each apron and may be mounted adjustably on a drive shaft therefor so as to provide positive and uniform operation of the aprons. At the same time provision is made for ease of replacement of the aprons by making it possible to remove the individual unit entirely without stopping any other portion of the machine. The spindle is not stopped, but the sliver is broken while 2,704,863 Patented Mar. 29, 1955 ice the completely assembled unit, including the aprons, is replaced. It is not necessary to stop the entire drive shaft and remove all of the aprons therefrom so as to get access to and replace the defective apron, as was required heretofore. The individual unit may be removed and replaced quickly and easily with no stoppage of the machine and it is also possible to replace readily the individual aprons mounted on the subframe.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the long-draft mechanism of a frame showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the mounting and drive means for the aprons, taken on the line 22 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is substantially a plan view thereof at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, taken from the opposite side on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation showing a modification of apron mounting.

The parts of a frame shown in Fig. 1 include a spool 1 from which the sliver R is led through a pair of back rolls 2 to a pair of front or drafting rolls 3, thence onto the usual bobbin carried by a spindle operated in the usual manner. These parts may be operated in any well known manner and be constructed or arranged as desired.

Mounted intermediate the back and front rolls 2 and 3, respectively, is an apron drive shaft 4 which preferably extends throughout the length of the frame and is power driven and mounted in suitable bearings 5 supported on the carrier stands or frames 5 at desired points along the length thereof. One drive shaft 4 thus operates all of the long-draft aprons on the corresponding side of the frame. The shaft 4 is provided with rolls 6 at intervals therealong corresponding with the positions of the aprons and cooperating therewith to facilitate the feeding of the sliver through the drafting apparatus.

The aprons are designated at 7 and 8, respectively, each of which is in the form of an endless flexible band, and they have parallel runs in relatively close side-by-side relation to receive and control the sliver therebetwen.

Th aprons 7 and 8 are supported at one end respectively on rolls 9 and 10, and at the opposite end on guide bars 11 and 12. The rolls 9 and 10 are power driven and operate the aprons which extend thereover, while the guide bars 11 and 12 are fixed and serve to hold the aprons in relatively tight relation while allowing for linear movement of the aprons with the sliver, the aprons sliding circumferentially over the fixed guide bars.

The roll 10 is pressed onto a shaft 13 journaled in a pair of laterally spaced side bars 14 at opposite ends of the roll 10. The side bars 14 extend in overlapping relation with the drive shaft 4, shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and are seated thereon. Each of the side bars 14 has a semi-cylindrical notch 15 in the lower face thereof which is shown as provided with a bushing 16 therein bearing upon the rotatable shaft 4 and supporting the subframe thereon while allowing freedom of turning movement of the shaft relative thereto.

The roll 9, which acts as a tension roll, is press mounted on a shaft 17 journaled in bars 18 formed on the ends of bolts 19 extending upwardly through the side bars 14 and provided with wing nuts 20 thereon in the example illustrated as adjusting means for the position of the tension roll 9. The bolts 19 are slidable through openings in the side bars 14 and are capable of lengthwise adjustment relative thereto.

The positions of the bolts 19 and of the tension roll 9 are under spring tension by cantilever leaf springs 21 on opposite sides of the subframe 1418. Each of the leaf springs has an end provided with an eye surrounding the bolt 19 and engaging under the nut 20 to apply tension to the bolt at each opposite end of the tension roll 9. Provision may be made for locking the nut 20 in its set position for which purpose I have shown a notch 22in the bottom face of the nut engagaing with a detent 23 formed on each spring 21, whenever the nut has been turned a half revolution. The springs 21 are shown as formed on a sheet metal plate 24 secured to the upper faces of the subframe side bars 14 by screws 25, and the springs are offset from the side bars, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

By screwing down on the wing nuts 20, the tension on the bolts 19 is increased, thus drawing the side bars 18 and the roll 9 toward the side bars 14 until the roll 9 comes into contact with equal pressure against the rolls 6 and 10, whereupon the reactionary forces (resulting from tension on the bolts 19) are transmitted equally from the center line of the roll 9 through the center lines of the shafts and 13, thus forcing the shaft 4 securely into the semicircular seat 15.

The guide bars 11 and 12 that support the forward ends of the aprons 7 and 8 are mounted in spring clips 26 and 27, which clips are located at opposite ends of the respective guide bars 11 and 12, as shown in Fig. 3, and hold the guide bars securely and rigidly therein. The clips 26 and 27 are carried on the cantilever leaf springs 28 and 29, respectively, formed on spring plates of spring steel or other suitable material, and secured by screws 30 and 31 to the outer ends of the bars 18 and 14, respectively.

The spring mounting for the guide bars 11 and 12 presses the inner faces of the spring clips 26 and 27 together. Normally it is preferred that the aprons 7 and 8 be somewhat thinner than the metal of the spring clips which therefore leaves the adjacent faces of the aprons spaced apart sufficiently to receive the sliver therebetween. The shape and character of the leaf springs 28 and 29 may be varied to provide the desired tension on the sliver. These springs serve also to tighten the aprons lengthwise and prevent them from flopping during operation.

Variations in the spacing of the aprons may be obtained by the provision of bushings around the guide bars 11 and 12 within the spring clips 26 and 27, which bushings are indicated at 32 in Fig. 5. These bushings are provided at opposite ends of the guide bars at the points within the clips, and thereby serve to space the centers of the guide bars different distances apart according to the thicknesses of the bushings used, thereby obtaining desired spacing of the aprons.

The individual unit 1418 is mounted detachably on the shaft 4 with the side bars 14 straddling the drive roll 6 at opposite ends of the latter, as will be apparent from Fig. 3. The disposition of the side bars 14 with respect to the drive shaft 4 and the tension roll 9 acting through the interposed portion of the apron 7 will serve to hold the unit securely on the drive shaft 4, with the apron 7 bearing directly against the roll 6 and pressed thereagainst by the roll 9. The assembly as shown in Fig. 4 is such that the drawing up of the bolts 19 will tend to increase the pressure on the roll 6 in opposition to the pressure of the side bars 14 on the shaft 4.

Provision may be made for proper alignment of the aprons 7 and 8 in the direction of draft by swinging the unit bodily about the axis of the drive shaft 4 on which it is supported. This may be accomplished by an adjusting screw 33, which is screw threaded through a sleeve 34 fixed on the projecting portion of the plate 24 and bearing against a stop 35 formed between bearings on the carrier stand 5'. An adjustment of the screw 33 in the sleeve 34 will vary the limit of swinging movement of the unit about the axis of the shaft 4.

The aprons 7 and 8 are adapted to be power driven from the shaft 4 by a gear 36 fixed on the shaft and meshing with a gear 37 on the roll 9, as shown in Fig. 2. A gear 38 on the roll meshes with the gear 37 and is driven thereby, thus imparting uniform driving movement to both aprons 7 and 8. This provides for a positive drive of both aprons with the uniformity of feed of the sliver therebetween.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the individual unit which includes the aprons 7 and 8 may be apphed and removed quickly and easily without disturbing the other parts of the frame and without stopping the machine. The spindle is not stopped but the sliver is broken until the aprons are replaced. The entire individual unit is removed merely by loosening the nuts on the bolts 19 sufficiently to disengage the tension roll 9 from the roll 6 and allow the subframe 14 to be lifted from the shaft 4. Where new belts are required for the unit, these may be applied and the unit set back in place, or a new unit substituted therefor without waiting for the repair. Consequently, the aprons can be replaced without stopping the machine.

It 1s not necessary to stop any portion of any frame to replace the apron or the complete long draft unit. Everything remains in operation, including the spmdle. To replace a defective apron or unit, the operator breaks the sliver R (Fig. 1), making that on spindle nonproductive during the few seconds it takes to remove the defective unit and install a new unit. The entire machine, including the spindle, continues to operate at full speed while the defective unit is being replaced.

In replacing the aprons 7 and 8 it will be evident that this requires only the removal of the bolts 19 from the side bars 14, and the removal of one of the side bars 14 and 18 and the guide bars 11 and 12, and the threading of these parts through new aprons, after which they may be replaced. The guide bars 11 and 12 snap quickly and readily in the spring clips 26 and 27 without difficulty, and the spring mountings thereof 28 and 29 hold the aprons taut in service against flopping of the aprons due to looseness thereof, as has been encountered heretofore.

With this assembly of the long-draft aprons it is possible to get a longer draft of the sliver than has been provided heretofore with the corresponding commercial machines. Moreover the length of the aprons can be varied to meet the needs of particular installations and to meet personal requirements of the operators thereof.

This device can be used in processing cotton, worsted, rayon or synthetic yarns.

While I have illustrated and described one embodiment of the invention, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with drawing rolls adapted to receive a sliver therebetween, of long-draft aprons arranged in feeding relation to the drawing rolls to feed the sliver with respect thereto, a drive shaft for the aprons, a subframe, guide means for the respective aprons and journaled in the subframe for supporting the aprons in a unitary assembly, and means adjustably mounting the subframe on the drive shaft for bodily removal of the subframe and the aprons therefrom as a unit.

2. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with drawing rolls adapted to receive a sliver therebetween, of long-draft aprons arranged in feeding relation to the drawing rolls to feed the sliver with respect thereto, a drive shaft for the aprons, a subframe, guide means for the respective aprons and journaled in the subframe for supporting the aprons in a unitary assembly, means adjustably mounting the subframe on the drive shaft for bodily removal of the subframe and the aprons therefrom as a unit, and driving means operatively connecting the drive shaft with the aprons and constructed for automatic disconnection upon separation of the subframe from the drafting apparatus.

3. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with two pairs of drawing rolls and a drive shaft interposed therebetween, of a pair of long-draft aprons arranged between the pairs of drawing rolls, a subframe, guide means for the respective aprons and journaled in the subframe for mounting the aprons as a unit, means mounting the subframe detachably on the drive shaft for bodily separation of the subframe and the aprons therefrom, and means operatively connecting the drive shaft with the aprons and forming a driving connection therebetween.

4. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with two pairs of drawing rolls and a drive shaft interposed therebetween, of a pair of long-draft aprons arranged between the pairs of drawing rolls, a subframe, guide means for the respective aprons and journaled in the subframe for supporting the aprons, means mounting the subframe on the drive shaft for detachment and bodily separation of the draft assembly from the drafting apparatus, and means forming a driving connection from the drive shaft to the aprons.

5. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with two pairs of drawing rolls, of a pair of long-draft aprons arranged between the pairs of drawing rolls, rolls supporting the aprons at one end in driving relation thereto, guide bars supportmg the opposite ends of the aprons, and leaf springs supporting the guide bars and arranged to apply tension thereto and maintaining the aprons taut.

6. In textile drafting apparatus, a pair of long-draft aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end, guide bars supportmg the aprons at the opposite end, and yieldable mountings supporting the guide bars and tensioned in a direction lengthwise of the aprons for holding the aprons taut.

7. In textile drafting apparatus, a pair of long-draft aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end, guide bars supporting the aprons at the opposite end, leaf springs supporting the guide bars for yieldable movement toward and from each other.

8. In textile drafting apparatus, a pair of long-draft aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end, guide bars supporting the aprons at the opposite ends, and yieldable mountings supporting the guide bars for yieldable movement toward and from each other, said mountings including spring clips engaging the guide bars at opposite ends thereof for bodily separation of the guide bars therefrom.

9. In textile drafting apparatus, a pair of long-draft aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end, side bars supporting one of the rolls, guide bars supporting the aprons at the opposite end, yieldable mountings supporting the guide bars for yieldable movement toward and from each other, an auxiliary frame supporting another of the rolls and including bolts extending through the side bars, nuts connected with the bolts for adjustment relative thereto, and spring means connected with the bolts tending to hold the auxiliary frame in an adjusted position relative to the side bars.

10. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with a shaft having a roll thereon, of a pair of long-draft aprons, guide means for the aprons including a pair of rolls arranged with one of said rolls bearing against the first mentioned roll on the shaft, and a frame supporting the pair of rolls and detachably mounted on the shaft in bearing relation with said shaft on the opposite side from thixl roll of the pair that bears against the first mentioned ro 11. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with a drive shaft having a roll thereon, of a pair of long-draft aprons, guide means for the aprons including a pair of rolls one of which is arranged in bearing relation against the first mentioned roll, a frame supporting the aprons and the pair of rolls, and means detachably mounting the frame on the shaft in bearing relation against the shaft diametrically opposite the roll of the pair of rolls which bears against the roll on the shaft.

12. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with a drive shaft having a roll thereon, of a pair of long-draft aprons, guide means for the aprons including a pair of rolls one of which is arranged in bearing relation against the first mentioned roll, a frame supporting the aprons and the pair of rolls, means detachably mounting the frame on the shaft in bearing relation against the shaft diametrically opposite the roll of the pair of rolls which bears against the roll on the shaft for swinging movement on the shaft, and adjustable means for limiting the extent of swinging movement relative thereto.

13. In textile drafting apparatus, a drafting unit comprising a pair of long-draft aprons, guide means for the aprons including a pair of rolls in guiding relation with the respective aprons, a frame supporting the guide means including the rolls, said frame having a bearing seat thereon spaced from one of the guide rolls and in opposed relation thereto in position to receive a supporting shaft therein mounting the drafting unit thereon.

14. In textile drafting apparatus, a drafting unit comprising a pair of long-draft aprons, guide means for the aprons including a pair of rolls in guiding relation with the respective aprons, a frame supporting the guide means including the rolls, said frame having a concave bearing seat thereon spaced from one of the guide rolls and in opposed relation thereto in position to receive a supporting shaft therein mounting the drafting unit thereon, and means for adjusting the last-mentioned guide roll relative to the other guide roll.

15. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with a shaft having a roll thereon, of a pair of long-draft aprons, guide means for the aprons including a pair of rolls arranged with one of said rolls bearing against the first-mentioned roll on the shaft, and a frame supporting the pair of rolls and detachably mounted on the shaft in bearing relation with said shaft on the opposite side from the roll of the pair that bears against the first mentioned roll, and means forming a driving connection between said shaft and the pair of apron guide rolls.

16. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination with a drive shaft, of a long-draft unit comprising a pair of long-draft aprons, guide means for the aprons including a pair of rolls in guiding relation therewith, a frame supporting the guide means and having the rolls journaled therein, said frame having a bearing seat thereon supporting the unit on the drive shaft, and means forming a driving connection between said shaft and the pair of apron guide rolls.

17. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination of a pair of top and bottom aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end, guide bars supporting the aprons at the opposite end, supports for the opposite ends of each guide bar, and means supporting the supports for each guide bar, said supporting means being yieldable lengthwise of the aprons and applying lengthwise tension thereto.

18. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination of a pair of top and bottom aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end, guide bars supporting the aprons at the opposite end, supports for the opposite ends of each guide bar, and means yieldably urging the respective bars inwardly toward each other.

19. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination of a bottom apron, a roll supporting the apron at one end thereof, a guide bar supporting the apron at the opposite end thereof, means coacting with the bottom apron for drafting a sliver therebetween, and resilient means supporting the guide bar and yieldable lengthwise of the apron.

20. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination of a bottom apron, a roll supporting the apron at one end thereof, a guide bar supporting the apron at the opposite end thereof, means coacting with the bottom apron for drafting a sliver therebetween, and a leaf spring supporting the guide bar and yieldable in a direction lengthwise of the apron.

21. In textile drafting apparatus, the combination of a pair of top and bottom aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end, guide bars supporting the aprons at the opposite end, supporting clips connected with the ends of the guide bars, and means yieldably urging the clips of the respective bars inwardly toward each other in abutting relation, said clips being relatively thicker at the points of contact with each other than the thickness of the aprons and holding the aprons spaced apart.

22. In textile drafting apparatus having a drive shaft, a drafting unit comprising a long draft apron, means coacting with the apron for drafting a sliver therebetween, means supporting the apron at opposite ends thereof, a single unitary frame having the supporting means for the opposite ends of the apron carried entirely thereby, and means connected with the frame for mounting and supporting the frame on the drive shaft.

23. In textile drafting apparatus having a drive shaft, a drafting unit comprising a pair of long draft aprons, rolls supporting the aprons at one end thereof, guide bars supporting the aprons at the opposite end thereof, a single unitary frame having the rolls and guide bars carried wholly thereby, and means connected with the frame for mounting and supporting the frame on the drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,092,631 Casablancas Apr. 7, 1914 1,481,689 Casablancas Jan. 22, 1924 2,132,299 Jackson Oct. 4, 1938 2,182,695 Honda Dec. 5, 1939 2,193,196 Jackson Mar. 12, 1940 2,209,573 Louie July 30, 1940 2,304,885 Cobb Dec. 15, 1942 2,484,810 Bacon et al. Oct. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 309,905 Great Britain July 11, 1929 

